MATCH DETAILS

Bottesford Town 1-2 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Saturday 16th September 2023

Barrett Steel Stadium

MATCH REPORT

Silsden continued their winning form with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Bottesford Town at the Barrett Steel Stadium on Saturday.

Despite creating a number of chances, it would take until the 90th minute for Casey Stewart to grab the winner after Isaac Baldwin’s first half strike was cancelled out by a stunning Reece Moody strike.

The result sees us continue to top the NCEL Premier Division table with 21 points from our opening 10 fixtures.

As in previous weeks, we started quickly and looked to take the game to our opposition, Arley Barnes seeing a shot blocked before Luke Brooksbank sent an effort wide within the opening 10 minutes.

Bottesford’s keeper looked to be in good form, tipping a Cody Cromack strike wide on 18 minutes.

Brooksbank could have then opened the scoring just moments later, Jake Maltby’s through ball sent him 1v1 but the keeper made himself big to make the stop.

We would have the ball in the net on 32 minutes, Kayle Price racing in behind and finishing well only to be controversially called offside.

Having looked so dangerous, it was only a matter of time before the opening goal came.

It would be Baldwin grabbing his second goal in as many games as he arrived late into the box and smashed home at the back post following a small scramble.

After the interval our control of the game continued, Maltby going close to our second with a decent curling effort.

But as so often happens in football, don’t take your chances and you will be punished.

Kyle Trennery’s clearance fell only as far as Moody who hit a stunning 30-yard strike over everyone and into the empty net.

Chance after chance continued to fall for Sils, Clayton and Baldwin both seeing headed efforts tipped behind well.

The organised defence of the hosts continued to frustrate us, Ellis Hudson going closest late on as he shot over from close range.

It would be a huge sense of relief when into added time Stewart popped up with his most important goal so far, picking up the ball inside the box, keeping his composure to round the keeper before rifling low beyond the outstreched legs on the Bottesford goalline.

Not the finest performance from Sils, but it’s always important to win when your not at your best.

There’s just under a week to go before our next game; a break from league action as we welcome Northern League side Billingham Sythonia to The Office Interiors Stadium for the FA Vase Second Qualifying Round.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Silsden AFC 5-0 Barton Town

NCEL Premier Division

Tuesday 12th September

The Office Interiors Stadium

MATCH REPORT

A stunning Silsden performance saw us run out 5-0 winners against Barton Town and climb to the top of the NCEL Premier Division last night.

Goals for Isaac Baldwin and Casey Stewart came either side of a second-consecutive hat-trick for summer signing Kayle Price who takes his tally to 8 for the season.

A fifth win in a row for Sils who have turned their fortunes around after a mixed start to the campaign.

Off the back of Saturday’s thumping 9-1 triumph, we wasted no time getting on the front foot as Price headed narrowly wide from a Jake Maltby centre.

The visitors weren’t without their chances however, with experienced centre half Adam Clayton being forced into an impressive goalline clearance following a Tom Waudby header.

Casey Stewart looked to continue his great start to life in red and black, a dipping, low strike from range rattling the post on the 20 minute mark.

We would take the lead just moments later, a loose ball fell to fullback Baldwin who rifled home a powerful strike from inside the penalty area.

Last Saturday, Silsden were already four goals up by the half hour mark, that minute would prove significant again last night too.

A driving run forward from Clayton followed by a slide-rule pass through to Price ended with the striker curling a wonderful left footed effort into the top corner.

On 34 minutes Stewart was once again a lick of paint away from scoring as another thunderous effort rattled the Barton crossbar, whilst at the other end Kyle Trenerry made a solid stop with his legs to maintain our two goal cushion.

The game would be put to bed before the break thanks to two quickfire goals from Kayle Price.

His first, a close range tap-in following a great low cross from Luke Brooksbank whilst his second was the pick of the bunch, turning brilliantly inside the box before unleashing a strike that curled away from the keeper and into the top right-hand corner.

A 15-minute hattrick for Kayle who makes it trebles in back-to-back games.

After the break, we didn’t rest on our laurels and went in search of more goals, Brooky going close on a number of occasions but unlucky not to find the target.

As in the first half, Stewart looked dangerous with his shots from distance, the Barton keeper making a great diving save to keep one out midway through the half.

Casey’s persistence would pay off on 80 minutes.

His 25-yard strike whistled into the top corner, leaving the keeper little chance and putting the cherry on the cake of a superb Sils performance.

14 goals in two games has seen us shoot right up the table and we now sit in top spot with 18 points from our nine fixtures so far.

Next up is a trip to Scunthorpe on Saturday to take on Bottesford Town, lets hope we can keep up our fantastic form and bring all three points back to West Yorkshire with us!

 

It is with deep regret that we announce the passing of Eddie Sessford, a valued and hard working member of the Silsden Sports Club and Silsden AFC family.

Eddie has been involved with the club for many years, right up until his last days.

Our thoughts go out to Irene and his family during this difficult time.

We will come together for a minutes silence before Tuesday’s game with Barton, with further information regarding a lasting memorial in due course.

MATCH DETAILS

Silsden AFC 2-1 Hallam

NCEL Premier Division

Saturday 2nd September

The Office Interiors Stadium

MATCH REPORT

A ten-man Silsden side made it three wins in a row on Saturday following a 2-1 triumph over high-flying Hallam at The Office Interiors Stadium.

A first goal for defender Spencer Harris and a close range finish from Ellis Hudson were enough to secure the points, despite a late Keiren Watson strike for the visitors.

In typical Cobbydaler’s fashion we didn’t make it easy for ourselves as Jacob Smith saw red on 61 minutes, but our defensive resilience was enough to see us claim the victory in the end.

Things almost got off to a disastrous start as Isaac Baldwin was forced to make a crucial goal line clearance just moments into the game.

We settled quickly after that early scare however and took the lead through the experienced head of Spencer Harris on five minutes.

A pinpoint Hudson corner found the centre half and he nodded a powerful header into the corner of the Hallam goal.

After all the early action, the game began to slow down and it would take until the 30th minute for anything meaningful to occur.

In fact it would be two chances in quick succession for the visitors, Jamie Austin shooting over from close range before Scott Ruthven sent a half volley wide of the upright.

New Sils man Cody Cromack appears to have adjusted to life quickly at Keighley Road and his 40-yard effort looked destined for the top corner were it not for the acrobatics of Hallam’s Hugo Warhurst.

Silsden headed into the break with the lead, but on the hour mark, their advantage would be under threat after Smith received his marching orders for time wasting.

Despite the man advantage, there was little the Countrymen could do to stop the brilliance and determination of Casey Stewart.

The winger picked up the ball on the left wing, twisted and turned his way into the box and beyond 3 defenders before squaring to Hudson to rifle home our second.

Hallam were keen to look for a way back into the game however and they halved the deficit with ten minutes to go after Watson headed home a Daniel Pudil cross.

As the pressure continued to mount, we were forced to hold on, Kyle Trenerry holding onto a powerful snapshot whilst new signing Lewis Hey was called upon to make a crucial defensive block late on.

There was time for one late Silsden chance when substitute Hey found space in the box only for Warhurst to narrow the angle and tip over smartly.

Not an easy win in the end but one that could be crucial come the end of the season for Sils. We move up to 7th in the table with 12 points from our 7 games so far.

Up next we welcome Pickering Town to the Office Interiors Stadium on Saturday 9th September.

MATCH DETAILS

Silsden AFC 2-1 Newcastle Blue Star

FA Vase First Qualifying Round

Saturday 26th August 2023

The Office Interiors Stadium

MATCH REPORT

Silsden overcame a Newcastle Blue Star side making their first ever FA Vase appearance yesterday with a 2-1 win at The Office Interiors Stadium.

Two second half strikes from Ellis Hudson and Casey Stewart gave us a two goal advantage although a late Dean Holmes strike did make for a nervy final few minutes.

The Cobbydaler’s victory sees us through to the second qualifying round where we will face Billingham Sythonia following there penalty win over Barnoldswick.

It took a while for either side to really get into the game, Kyle Trenerry made the first save of the match on 23 minutes, parrying away a fierce strike from the edge of the box.

Stewart did look dangerous for Sils though, driving into the box from the right wing and firing towards the near post only to see the strike pushed behind.

We continued to apply the pressure and did have the ball in the net just before the break as Jake Maltby tapped home a low cross.

Unfortunately the lino’s flag went straight up and the search for the opener continued.

Kayle Price was looking to build from his two goals in midweek and came close when his low drilled strike flew just past the far post.

Whatever the lads were told at halftime seemed to have an impact as we shot straight out the blocks, upped the tempo and looked for a goal.

That goal did come on 54 minutes.

Hudson picked up the ball on the edge of the box, powered into the area before unleashing an unstoppable effort into the roof of the net.

Our lead would be doubled 14 minutes later after a deflected effort found its way to Stewart inside the box.

The winger still had a lot to do as he cut the ball onto his right foot, opened up half-a-yard of space and curled a fantastic strike into the bottom corner.

We would have the chance to put the game to bed on 81 minutes as Harry Thompson’s clever footwork allowed him to get shot off from close range but the keeper did well to narrow the angle and make the save.

Stewart’s volleyed follow-up also narrowly dropped wide.

The visiting fans did have something to cheer late on when a lapse of concentration allowed fullback Holmes to fire home from inside the box.

It wouldn’t be enough however and we held on to secure our passage to the next round. Billingham Sythonia will be the visitors to the Office Interiors Stadium on the 23rd September.

Next up is a return to league action, as Hallam are the next opponents to visit us this Saturday.

MATCH DETAILS

Silsden AFC 2-1 Campion AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Tuesday 22nd August 2023

The Office Interiors Stadium – Att: 294

MATCH REPORT

Silsden came out on top in a Bradford District derby clash with high-flying Campion at The Office Interiors Stadium yesterday evening.

A first-half brace from summer signing Kayle Price was enough to see the Cobbydaler’s pick up a 2-1 victory over their local rivals.

An exciting game of football overall with plenty of moments of quality, the result put an end to the visitors unbeaten start to the campaign.

With Matt Cavanagh having spoke on the quality of Campion in an interview earlier this week, he was keen for Silsden to start well and prove themselves early on.

The lads clearly embraced the challenge and would open the scoring after only eight minutes.

Making his first start after returning from injury, Ellis Hudson showed neat footwork inside the penalty area before sending the ball across the six-yard box for Price to tap home his first competitive goal for Sils.

Things almost got even better on 20 minutes when more good play from Hudson set up Jake Maltby from 25 yards out, his curling effort brilliantly tipped over by Bradley Emmerson.

However, Campion have already proven themselves to be a threat on the front foot this season with Marcus Day leading the NCEL scoring charts.

It would be Day who grabbed the leveller on 25 minutes, a long ball picking him out and allowing him to volley home from just inside the penalty area.

Day should have added his and the visitors second soon after.

A loose backpass from Adam Clayton saw the striker bearing down on goal, but former Campion man Kyle Trenerry rushed off his line to deny him.

The end-to-end action continued as the half went on, Hudson seeing an effort cleared off the line from a corner before a counter-attack saw Michael O’Brien bend narrowly wide of the upright.

With a frantic first 45 coming to an end, a moment of brilliance from Price gave us the lead.

A long ball from Casey Stewart picked out the striker who took one touch before delicately lofting the ball over the onrushing keeper with his left foot.

Despite the action in the first half, the game seemed to quiet down in the second, with Silsden looking to hold onto their advantage and control the game in a smart manner.

Isaac Baldwin did have an effort cutting in from the left but it sailed comfortably over the bar.

The best chance of the half fell to our visitors on 62 minutes as they looked to press for an equaliser.

Former Emley winger Junayd Cassius-Gill did well to break free inside the box, before curling an effort towards the top corner of the net.

Trenerry once again showed his class however, diving across wonderfully to tip the ball behind for a corner that Silsden were able to clear.

Despite a number of dangerous set-pieces from the visitors, we were able to hold and secure a crucial and well deserved 3 points against one of the division’s toughest sides.

There’s a break from league action this Saturday as Newcastle Blue Star are the visitors to The Office Interiors Stadium for the FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round.

 

 

 

MATCH DETAILS

Frickley Athletic 2-0 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Saturday 19th August

Westfield Lane

MATCH REPORT

Two quick-fire goals saw Silsden fall to a 2-0 defeat away to Frickley in the NCEL Premier Division yesterday.

Despite a promising start from the Cobbydalers, strikes from Keanan Mannings and Keegan Townrow on the stroke of halftime condemned them to their third league defeat of the season.

Having won our previous two games, confidence was high in the Silsden camp and chances began to flow early on.

Adam Clayton struck from distance and saw his effort tipped brilliantly onto the crossbar by Callum Bradbury before the resulting corner found Kayle Price whose shot was held by the stopper.

In-from winger Casey Stewart came close soon after when he was picked out by Luke Brooksbank but could only poke wide from close range.

The trend continued as Lewis Gardner drove into the penalty but perhaps was too unselfish when space for a shot opened up and he opted to cut the ball back instead, allowing the hosts to clear.

More chances continued to fall our way, Clayton heading narrowly over following Maltby’s whipped corner.

But as so often happens in football, fail to take your chances and you will be punished and Frickley took advantage of that to go two up before the break.

From a throw-in on the left, Manning played a quick one-two inside the box before firing an unstoppable shot into the far corner beyond Kyle Trenerry.

The second came just moments later, a deep cross wasn’t dealt with allowing Townrow to rise above our defence and head home from close range.

After the break things didn’t get much better for Silsden as Trenerry was forced to rush out and make two almost identical saves one-on-one with the hosts attackers.

Despite the earlier goals, Kyle was in inspired form, diving across the goal to tip over a powerful drive inside the box on 57 minutes.

It would take until the 72nd minute until Sils went close again. Experienced centre half Spencer Harris’ speculative effort dipping just wide of the upright.

Jack Normanton looked to have pulled one back when his audacious chip nestled onto the roof of Bradbury’s net.

Into the final moments, Trenerry had time to pull off one more wondersave as a freekick flew towards the top corner, but it mattered little to the outcome of the game.

Despite a dominating opening half-hour, Sils will be disappointed to come away with nothing as we slip to 11th in the table.

There’s a chance to put things right this Tuesday with the visit of early frontrunners Campion to the Office Interiors Stadium for a highly anticipated Bradford District Derby.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Silsden AFC 2-1 Thackley

NCEL Premier Division

Tuesday 15th August

The Office Interiors Stadium

MATCH REPORT

Silsden came out victorious in an action-packed Bradford District Derby with Thackley on Tuesday.

Goals from Casey Stewart and Ellis Hudson either side of a Tom Greaves volley secured a 2-1 win for the Cobbydalers at The Office Interiors Stadium.

In a game full of chances, the scoreline was kept low with impressive performances from both keepers and some solid defending overall.

Off the back of a hard-fought 1-0 win at Rossington last Tuesday, Silsden started well, T’Nique Fishley heading narrowly wide early on before Isaac Baldwin saw a curled effort blocked.

Last season’s top scorer Luke Brooksbank looked a real threat in the first half, pressuring the backline and driving forward only to see a left-footed strike saved by Luke Wilson.

New signing Kayle Price also saw a number of efforts blocked throughout the first half, but as Silsden continued to knock on the door, it would be Stewart who eventually found the breakthrough on 43 minutes.

Fishley made a marauding run down the right and delivered a pin-point cross into the box, the winger arrived to meet it and nod home the opener.

Despite a dominating Sils first half, Thackley always pose a threat on the attack and they would level on 51 minutes.

The experienced Tom Greaves grabbed his 350th non-league goal with an instinctive volley inside the box.

After the equaliser, things looked to have got even worse for Silsden as Stewart found himself sinbinned for dissent with 20 minutes to go.

However the Cobbydalers have found a new resilience recently and didn’t let going down to ten men stop them finding a winner.

Returning from a knee injury, Ellis Hudson made a big impact on his return, picking up a loose ball from a corner and drilling home a strike from inside the box.

The result sees us climb to 9th in the table with two wins in a row, next up is a trip to Frickley on Saturday 19th.

Match Details

Rossington Main 0-1 Silsden AFC

NCEL Premier Division

Tuesday 8th August

Oxford Street

Match Report

Silsden had to battle hard with ten-men to earn their first win of the NCEL Premier Division season with a 1-0 victory away to Rossington on Tuesday.

In an action packed first half, Casey Stewart opened the scoring after 24 minutes. Dom Craig was then controversially sent off for a second yellow just before the interval.

The second 45 saw the Cobbydaler’s showcase their defensive resilience, as they repelled wave after wave of Rosso attacks in order to hold onto their lead and secure the three points.

An end to end start to the game saw both sides go close early on, Ross Hannah shooting over from the edge of the box for the hosts before Sils captain Adam Clayton’s effort inside the area was blocked behind for a corner.

Stewart then opened his account for the club 24 minutes in.

Good build up saw Jake Maltby break free and the midfielder crossed low to the back post where the former Liversedge winger was waiting to tap home for the opening goal.

Maltby and Stewart both continued to threaten the hosts defence, The former broke through once again but dragged his effort the wrong side of the post. Stewart then spotted the keeper off his line however his lobbed shot dropped narrowly wide.

The complexion of the game completely changed following Craig’s soft sending off for the Cobbydaler’s. After being penalised for a clean challenge on 39 minutes, he received his marching orders just 5 minutes later.

Down to ten, Silsden’s backs were against the wall in the second half as the hosts sent in a number of crosses that had to be dealt with by the backline.

Jacob Smith and Spencer Harris were in fine form, clearing away any ball launched into to the box, while Kyle Trenerry collected a number of crosses and long-range efforts.

Silsden did look dangerous on the break however, after T’Nique Fishley cleared a goalbound effort, Maltby drove forward and found Price who fired wide.

Into the seven minutes of added time, Rosso were a whisker away from levelling as a header crashed off the crossbar and behind for a goalkick.

That chance would be last, meaning Silsden heading back to West Yorkshire with the three points. A strong and resilient defensive performance should give the Cobbydalers plenty of confidence heading into Tuesday’s Bradford District Derby with Thackley.

Match Details

Silsden 1-2 Albion

NCEL Premier Division

Friday 28th July 2023

The Office Interiors Stadium – Att: 520

Match Report

Silsden got off to a disappointing start on opening day in the NCEL Premier Division as a bumper crowd of 520 watched them fall to a 2-1 defeat to Bradford rivals Albion Sports.

In an end-to-end game at the Office Interiors Stadium last night, Jake Maltby opened the scoring for the hosts before Hass Gorji levelled on the stroke of half time.

Former Cobbydaler Robbie Fox grabbed the winner with a 30-yard strike just 13 minutes from time giving the visiting Lions a perfect start to the campaign.

The early exchanges saw very little in the way of action, Luke Brooksbank had a half chance early on but flashed a low effort wide of the left-hand post.

With the game starting to descend into a serious of fouls and free kicks, it took a moment of quality from Maltby to provide the opener.

Good play down the right gave the midfielder space inside the box and he curled a first-time strike into the far corner.

Gorji would level the game for the visitors just five minutes later, finding space inside the Silsden penalty area to turn before poking a low effort beyond Kyle Trenerry.

After the break Fox would have a chance to give Albion the lead, racing through on goal but a big save from Trenerry denied him.

Cobbydaler’s substitute Jack Normanton looked to make an impact of the bench as he drove forward and sent a shot on goal that stung the palms of the Albion keeper.

The game would be won on 77 minutes when Fox picked up the ball 30-yards from goal and hit an unstoppable strike into the top corner.

Joe Snowden, a graduate of Silsden’s WYL side came close to a late equaliser when his long-range effort flew just beyond the post, much to the dismay of the home supporters.

With that, Albion held on to claim the points. Not an ideal start for Silsden but plenty still to play for this season for a Cobbydaler’s side with lofty ambitions for the 23/24 NCEL campaign.